This I Do
I just realized something that I do that I don't like.
I sometimes "challenge" people that I meet by saying puzzling things to see if they "get" a social reference or not. Like, we being palsies and all, let's see if you're familiar with the Simpsons episode . . .
Of course rarely that on-the-nose, but I've been known to do it. Instead of communicating clearly, if I
- Say puzzling things that only I get to stroke my own ego and feel superior.
- Extract some "work" from the person interacting with me, to knock off the folks not worth my time (really? do I do that?)
- Sound all mysterious and clever
And it is all counterproductive in every way.